The larvae of A. adonis are extremely sluggish in habit, resting on stems of food plant and feeding on the dead portions.

This species was first described by George Vernon Hudson in 1898 under the name Xanthorhoe adonis using specimens collected at Castle Hill or at the Routeburn.

[2] Dugdale presumed that the syntype series of specimens Hudson sent to Meyrick is held in the Natural History Museum, London.

[2] Hudson described the egg and larvae of this species as follows: The egg, which is laid on its side, is about 1⁄40th inch in length, oval, not flattened, and without concavity when first deposited; there are a few very shallow, large, hexagonal depressions; the colour is very pale green, turning deep ochreous six days after being laid, and later to dull grey.

The length of the larva, when first hatched, is about 1⁄16th inch; general colour dull ochreous, slightly tinged with green; head very large, brownish-ochreous; a broad, wavy, green lateral line; a very slender indistinct dorsal line, on anterior portion only; a few short stout bristles, most numerous on anal segment; prolegs very large and close together.

When nearly full-grown the larva is about 3⁄4 inch long, stout, subcylindrical, considerably flattened, slightly tapering at each end, with prominent lateral ridge; black, faintly tinged with claret colour; an indistinct series of paler marks on midback, becoming confluent posteriorly, and forming a more conspicuous, wide, pale, dorsal line; lateral ridge dotted with white posteriorly; general surface somewhat roughened, giving larva very dull appearance; a few very short, thick bristles; legs pale brownish-yellow; prolegs black, moderately, close together.

adonis has vivid green forewings with dark coloured broad wavy lines edged with white which form a distinctive pattern.

[14] The larvae of A. adonis are extremely sluggish in habit, resting on stems of food plant and feeding on the dead portions.